Popular Woodworking 2009-12 № 180, страница 19

Tool Test

BY THE POPULAR WOODWORKING STAFF

SawStop's 'Tweener' Saw

SawStop introduces its Professional Cabinet Saw to round out your table saw choices.

We n the SawStop Professional Cabinet Saw (PCS) arrived at our shop we uncrated the tool to find that the saw is shipped on its side (other manufacturers ship their saws standing upright). Tipping the saw reduces the potential for damage during shipment. That's innovative "in the box" thinking.

We put the PCS through the normal setup checks during assembly. Even though I didn't need to adjust the saw's blade/miter slot setting (it was only out .001"), I did so anyway to check the process. It's easy to adjust should you need to do so.

In typical SawStop fashion, directions are clear and concise and all the nuts and bolts are packaged in clearly defined groupings to maximize an efficient assembly.

A small tweak was necessary before we pushed wood into the blade. The fence on the PCS required a bit of adjustment to flush a .004" dip out of the center, right at the blade. SawStop has made this adjustment easy with slots on the bottom of the fence and an included hex driver.

Of course, the new SawStop saw has the patented brake system for which the company has become known. That's a given. However, if you compare the PCS to Saw-Stop's Industrial Cabinet Saw (ICS), there are major differences, especially if you examine the weight of the saws. Added weight helps to smooth cutting operations.

You'll find the PCS (with the 36" T-Glide fence system) is about 200 pounds lighter than a comparably equipped ICS which

sells for $3,909. According to the comp any, that weight differential is the result of a few design changes, including trunnion size and design.

The trunnion on the PCS is considerably lighter because the design is more traditional - it does not span from cabinet side to cabinet side as it does on the ICS. Additionally, there is a smaller tabletop, a smaller cabinet to house the internal workings, a plastic motor cover (the ICS door is sheet metal) and the dust shroud on the PCS is also plastic instead of cast iron (as it is on the ICS). However, the plastic shroud on the PCS is moulded to improve dust collection - something all but impossible to do with cast iron.

Locked out. The throat insert lock - lift the bail handle - is outstanding. But a shop-made replacement seems out of the picture and $39 is a lot to pay when you need a replacement.

SawStop ■ 866-729-7867 or sawstop.com

Street price

■ Saw with 32" Fence System, $2,899

■ Saw with 52" Fence System, $2,999

For more information, go to pwfreeinfo.com.

And dust collection is, according to the company, around 99 percent when you use the improved blade guard with the molded-in dust port. (SawStop is working on a complete system that will have one port that will collect from the guard and the base. But to reach 99-percent collection at this time there are two ports to which to attach hoses and you need an additional dust collector, vacuum or shop-made rig.)

The saw performed as you would expect. The fence system glides on its rails and locks in position like a door on a jet. The 3-horsepower motor allows easy rips and crosscuts even through most gnarly woods - but I would suggest that you replace the included 40-tooth blade. A quality 50-tooth blade improved the cut substantially.

Bottom line: This saw is a good option if you feel the need for the safety provided by the braking system, but it's not the ICS in a shrunken version.

— Glen D. Huey

CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

28 ■ Popular Woodworking December 2009

PHOTOS BY AL PARRISH